XTR iShares Diversified Monthly Income ETF

BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited (BlackRock Canada), an indirect
subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK), announced today that it has called a
special meeting of unitholders of the iShares(R) S&P(R)/TSX(R) Income Trust
Index Fund (TSX:XTR) to be held on August 23, 2010, to approve changes to the
exchange traded fund's (ETF) investment objective and certain related matters.


"At iShares, we are constantly seeking solutions to better meet the needs of
investors," said Oliver McMahon, director of product management for iShares ETFs
at BlackRock Canada. 


"As income trusts assess their conversion strategies in time for the January
2011 deadline, we believe that making this change will ensure investors receive
a reliable income stream while still enjoying the benefits they've come to
associate with iShares ETFs including diversification, transparency, lower
costs, tax efficiency and the ability to use value-adding trading strategies
such as limit and stop orders."


Summary of changes to investment objective

BlackRock Canada is proposing to change the investment objective of XTR from its
current investment objective of seeking to provide long-term capital growth by
replicating, to the extent possible, the performance of the S&P/TSX Income Trust
Index (Index) to an investment objective of seeking to provide unitholders with
a consistent monthly cash distribution, with the potential for some modest
capital growth, through investment in a diversified portfolio of income-bearing
investments. XTR's investment strategy would change from investing primarily in
issuers which make up the Index to a fund strategy, whereby XTR would seek to
achieve its investment objective by holding a portfolio of income-bearing ETFs.


XTR was established to provide long-term capital growth by replicating the
performance of the Index. To carry out its investment objective, XTR has
acquired and held securities issued by income trusts included in the Index.
However, new tax rules will come into effect in 2011 that are expected to result
in most of these issuers reorganizing their affairs so that they will no longer
be income trusts and will no longer be eligible for inclusion in the Index.
Although XTR could continue to invest in any issuer that remains in the Index,
BlackRock Canada believes that the resulting portfolio would serve investor
needs less effectively than the portfolio that will result from the proposed
changes to XTR's investment objective. BlackRock Canada has determined that it
is in the best interests of unitholders to change XTR's investment objective as
set out above and the related investment strategy in an effort to continue to
provide unitholders with a diversified source of regular income without relying
on investments in income trusts. 


Summary of changes to fees

In connection with the change to the investment objective and investment
strategy of XTR, the method used to calculate the management fee in XTR will
also change. The management fee will remain equal to 0.55% of the XTR's net
asset value per year. However, the calculation of the fee will change to reflect
the fact that XTR will hold investments in other ETFs. XTR's management fee of
0.55% per year will include both the management fee paid directly by XTR, and
any management fees paid indirectly through XTR's holdings in other ETFs. As
well, if the new investment objective is approved, BlackRock anticipates that
the name of XTR will be changed to the "iShares Diversified Monthly Income
Fund".


Although BlackRock Canada is seeking unitholder approval to change the
investment objective of XTR, most other features of XTR will not change. XTR
will continue to trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) throughout the
trading day. 


More information available

An information circular providing more details on the special meeting of
unitholders, the proposed changes and how unitholders can vote will be sent in
late July to the unitholders of XTR and will be available on the iShares website
at www.iShares.ca. Only unitholders of record on July 22, 2010 will be entitled
to vote in respect of these matters. 


If the changes to the investment objective and related matters are approved by
unitholders of XTR, BlackRock Canada expects that the transition of XTR to the
proposed new investment objective will be fully implemented by approximately
September 1, 2010 but in any event, no later than October 1, 2010. 


For more information about XTR and the special meeting of unitholders, please
visit www.iShares.ca. All other inquiries: 1-866-iShares (1-866-474-2737) or
email iSharesCanada@blackrock.com. 


About BlackRock

BlackRock is a leader in investment management, risk management and advisory
services for institutional and retail clients worldwide. At March 31, 20 10,
BlackRock's AUM was US$3.364 trillion. BlackRock offers products that span the
risk spectrum to meet clients' needs, including active, enhanced and index
strategies across markets and asset classes. Products are offered in a variety
of structures including separate accounts, mutual funds, iShares(R) (exchange
traded funds), and other pooled investment vehicles. BlackRock also offers risk
management, advisory and enterprise investment system services to a broad base
of institutional investors through BlackRock Solutions. Headquartered in New
York City, as of March 31, 2010, the firm has approximately 8,500 employees in
24 countries and a major presence in key global markets, including North and
South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East and Africa. For
additional information, please visit the Company's website at www.blackrock.com.


About iShares ETFs

iShares is the global product leader in ETFs with over 410 funds globally across
equities, fixed income and commodities, which trade on 16 exchanges worldwide.
The iShares funds are bought and sold like common stocks on securities
exchanges. The iShares funds are attractive to many individual and institutional
investors and financial intermediaries because of their relative low cost, tax
efficiency and trading flexibility. Investors can purchase and sell securities
through any brokerage firm, financial advisor, or online broker, and hold the
funds in any type of brokerage account. The iShares customer base consists of
the institutional segment of pension plans and fund managers, as well as the
retail segment of financial advisors.

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